“When you have a lot to bring to a job, you want your muscles exercised. You want your brain to be busy. You want to solve hard problems yourself and with other smart people. Parrots and rabbits need something hard to chew on, and so do we,” she writes.

So how do you know if you’re just restless or whether it’s really time to look for a more demanding gig? Ryan offers several suggestions, including:

1. Problem, What Problem?

Doing the same thing over and over again in the exact same way never taught anyone anything. If your co-workers are interested only in
repeatedly treading the same well worn paths
, then it’s unlikely you’ll start
expanding your skills
anytime soon, according to Ryan. “Your co-workers may be the nicest people on Earth, but if they don’t understand what you’re talking about when you lay out frame-shifting ideas or if they can’t hold a conversation about anything except the way they’ve always done things, you’re in the wrong place,” she writes.

2. No One is Mentor Material

It bears repeating:
Hanging out with smart folks makes you smarter
. If you look around and don’t see anyone you really want to learn from at your current place of employment, that’s a huge red flag. Ask yourself: “Whom do I spar with? Who stimulates me mentally at work? Whom do I look up to and learn from?” If the answer is no one, it’s time to start plotting your escape, Ryan suggests.

3. No Vision at the Top

It’s hard to progress if you have no idea what you’re working toward, and, unless you’re very far advanced in your career,
that vision
for your team, department, or company should come from the top. If instead you’re getting radio silence about where the organization is headed, then the scope for meaningful contribution is severely limited. “You can’t grow your flame working for someone who has no idea what a vision is or where to get one. You have to learn from your boss,” warns Ryan.

Topics

Inc.com is where you can find everything you need to know to start and grow your business now. Inc.com is replete with small business ideas, information, and inspiration, as well as practical advice from those who have done it before.